Josie Maran is spring boarding off the success of her Argan Infinity Intensive Creamy Oil skin-care product with this color version, and the results are mixed. This is meant to be a multitasking product for use on cheeks and lips; as it turns out it's not a great product for either use.

Packaged in a color-coded aluminum squeeze tube with a screw top, the consistency of the product is creamy, with a bit of oiliness that's true to its "Creamy Oil" name.

The colors are pretty, and sheer enough that you can start with just a wash of color and build easily for a more dramatic look.

On cheeks, this creates a healthy flush effect that lasts several hours. We don't recommend it for those whose skin is oily or acne-prone, though – the formula simply contains too much oil (plus beeswax), which will make oily skin oilier while potentially worsening clogged pores and breakouts.

As a lip product, this provides strong color with a glossy finish that's attractive. Unlike results when applied to cheeks, this lasts a short amount of time, only about an hour without eating, so you'll have to reapply this frequently all day long. Despite the number of oils it contains, this doesn't moisturize lips all that well because the oil just doesn't cling well enough.

The formula contains a small amount of two citrus oils (sweet orange and tangerine) that pose a risk of irritation. We suspect the amounts are low enough to not be a big problem but even so they should be in there at all, as they don't have a skin care benefit. Either way, this isn't a makeup product someone with extra-sensitive skin should consider.

Overall, this adds up to mixed results you'll likely want to skip. Check out Josie Maran's Cheek Gelee for a similar and much better product in the same line!

Pros:

Good selection of colors.

Sheer coverage that's easily buildable for a natural-looking flush.

Lasts several hours on cheeks.

Cons:

Formula is too oily for those with oily or acne-prone skin to use on the face.

The Josie Maran brand was founded by supermodel and former Maybelline spokeswoman Josie Maran. By almost any definition, Maran is an iconic beauty. Like Cindy Crawford before her, who launched a namesake product line, Maran used her notoriety from modeling to do the same thing.

Anytime a model with celebrity status launches a cosmetic line, the curiosity among consumers is intense. The question lingers: Is Maran so beautiful because of these products? Of course not! She was magnificent long before her products were launched, and being born beautiful is not a sign of skin-care knowledge.

Almost every Josie Maran product is centered around the allegedly miraculous argan oil. This non-fragrant plant oil is said to do everything from reduce wrinkles to heal acne, while giving you younger-looking skin. Argan oil isn't a bad ingredient, as it contains beneficial lipids and fatty acids for skin, as well as vitamin E and other antioxidants, but it isn't the only oil that has these kinds of properties. Even more to the point, no single ingredient does it all for skin. It's just like your diet: if you eat only one type of food, you'd soon be malnourished. Skin is the body's largest organ, and it requires a variety of useful ingredients to look and function at its best.

It's worth pointing out also that although argan oil does have benefit for skin, it's gimmicky at best to include it in products like eyeshadow and mascara, but that's what you'll find in Maran's line. Oil in a mascara and eyeshadow will make those products slip and slide off your face and lashes, but there is barely any in her makeup products so not to worry. Even if argan oil had benefit in makeup, it wouldn't remain stable—it would quickly turn rancid when exposed to air.

Despite some high points, the makeup fails overall because when compared to less expensive options at the drugstore, Maran's color options are more average than exceptional.

Although makeup comprises the bulk of this line's offerings, Maran has several skin-care products, too. None of them are must-haves, although a handful of them have decent formulas. Like most lines that use predominantly natural ingredients, there are some fragrant oils present that smell great, but they can irritate your skin and lead to collagen breakdown.

Many of Maran's products are labeled as having a "natural formula," which often is not the case; there are plenty of synthetic ingredients present, including silicones and a synthetic film-forming agent. Those are not bad for skin, but it just shows that you can't trust the company's claims.

The Beautypedia Research Team is dedicated to helping you find the absolute best products for your skin, using research-based criteria to review beauty products from an honest, balanced perspective. Each member of the team was personally trained by Paula Begoun herself.